Tuesday 11 Jumada al-ula 1446 - 12 November 2024
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Does Swallowing Mucus or Inserting Finger in Ear Break Fast?

Question

When the blessed month of Ramadan is approaching, the scholars in our country start to distribute pamphlets explaining how to fast and what breaks the fast.

One of the things they say is that the one who swallows phlegm or mucus, or puts his finger in his ear, has broken his fast. Is this correct?

Summary of answer

The correct view is that swallowing mucus does not break the fast because it does not come under the same heading as food and drink. Putting a finger in one’s ear does not break the fast either.

Praise be to Allah.

Does Swallowing mucus break fast?

The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed concerning the fasting person swallowing phlegm or mucus: does it invalidate the fast or not? The correct view is that swallowing mucus does not invalidate the fast, because it does not come under the same heading as food and drink. 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymn (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

“When the scholars differ, the reference point is the Quran and Sunnah. If we are uncertain about a matter, as to whether it invalidates the act of worship or does not, the basic principle is that it does not invalidate it (unless there is evidence to the contrary). Based on that, swallowing phlegm does not break the fast. 

What matters is that one should leave phlegm and avoid trying to bring it up to the mouth from the throat. But if it comes up to the mouth, he should expel it, whether he is fasting or not. With regard to putting drops in the ears and whether that breaks the fast, that requires evidence that will be proof for the individual before Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, concerning breaking the fast.” (Majmu‘ al-Fatawa, 19/356) 

He also said: 

“The more correct view is that phlegm does not break the fast even if it reaches the mouth and one swallows it. It does not break the fast but one should not swallow it, because the scholars forbade that, because it is something off-putting and one should not swallow it.” (Liqa al-Bab al-Maftuh, no. 152) 

Does putting your finger in your ear break fast?

As for putting one’s finger in one’s ear, that definitely does not break the fast. In fact, even if one puts drops or medicine in the ear and can taste it in the throat, that does not invalidate the fast because there is no evidence to suggest that the fast is invalidated by that. 

For more information, please see the answer to question no. 80208

And Allah knows best.

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Source: Islam Q&A